May is National Mental Health Awareness Month – HHC Hospitals and Health Centers are the major provider of Behavioral Health Services in NYC

New York, NY ― In recognition of National Mental Health Awareness Month, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), the single largest provider of behavioral health services in New York City, reminds New Yorkers about the importance of seeking help for the prevention and treatment of common mental health conditions and the services that HHC has available to children, adolescents and adults.

HHC public hospitals and community health centers in every borough offer a wide array of mental health services to help with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other more serious conditions such as psychosis, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The approach to excellence in mental health care at HHC focuses on integrating the mental and physical health needs of patients to improve their overall health.

"Too many New Yorkers suffer because of the stigma associated with mental illness and are too ashamed or embarrassed to seek the help they need," said HHC President Alan D. Aviles. "At HHC, we have a cadre of expert and compassionate health care providers who believe in the full potential of prevention, provide care with the same urgency as any other health condition, and work toward recovery and a better quality of life for all our patients."

HHC offers affordable mental health services that include:

Behavioral Health Services for Children, Adolescents, Adults and Seniors – comprehensive in-patient and outpatient programs offered in an environment of respect, using evidence-based approaches. Patients and their families are engaged in treatment planning, as well as rehabilitation and recovery opportunities.

Psychiatric Emergency Services – specialized care for the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric crises, including suicidal or aggressive behavior for children and adults.

WTC Environmental Health Center -- Center of Excellence that is dedicated to the assessment and treatment of WTC-related conditions. The Center provides medical and mental health care with no out of pocket costs to residents, students, workers, or passersby who may still be sick from 9/11.

Substance Abuse and Dependence -- Many patients suffer from both a mental illness and a chemical dependency disorder. HHC staff are equipped to recognize and treat these disorders when they both exist.

According to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in any given year 1 in 4 adults will suffer from a mental disorder and approximately 5% will suffer from a Serious Mental Illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Mental illness is a condition that affects a person's daily functioning and can be debilitating. Individuals with Serious Mental Illness may have difficulty coping with the demands of life. Mental illness affects people across all ages, creeds and religion regardless of economic status. Mental illness is treatable and full recovery is possible.

For more information:

Call 311 to find an HHC hospital or health center and other free and low-cost mental health services and hotlines in New York City.

Call 1-800-LIFENET -- Lifenet is a free, confidential help line for New York City residents, available 24 hours per day/7 days a week. The staff of trained mental health professionals help callers find mental health and substance abuse services.
► 1-877-AYUDESE (1-877-298-3373) in Espanõl
► 1-877-990-8585 for Korean and Chinese callers (Mandarin & Cantonese)
► 1-212-982-5284 (TTY for hearing impaired)

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is a $6.7 billion integrated healthcare delivery system with its own 420,000 member health plan, MetroPlus, and is the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country. HHC serves 1.4 million New Yorkers every year and more than 475,000 are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 70 community based clinics. HHC Health and Home Care also provides in-home services for New Yorkers. HHC was the 2008 recipient of the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission's John M. Eisenberg Award for Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc or find us on facebook.com/nycHHC or twitter.com/HHCnyc.